2010 Volkswagen Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 446 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Volkswagen Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 78.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (77.0%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 37 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 13 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.9% | 102 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.8% | 84 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.4% | 73 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 43 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 19 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 36 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 73 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 82 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 314 | 22.3% |
| Petrol | 120 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 83 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 83 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 83 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 85 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Unclassified
Before buying a 2010 Volkswagen Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2010 Volkswagen Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 446 2010 Volkswagen Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2010 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 446 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.